The axiological dimension of psychiatric contact

This article is a general reflection on psychiatric contact considered from the metatheoretical standpoint of the philosophy of science and axiology. It is inspired by the axiological dilemma of Polish psychiatry and the possibility that similar problems may arise in other countries, including the United States. The author analyzes the relation between theoretical knowledge about people and the rules of psychiatric contact and emphasizes that this contact has primary ethical components. The professional and personal spheres of psychiatric contact are distinguished and described. In addition, psychiatric contact is differentiated from educational contact--that is, in the sense of influence on development--and from psychological counseling. Finally, the dangers and limitations of psychiatric treatment based on ideology are mentioned.